A Heart After God

Rich Jones

Weekend Messages

April 26, 2014

The foundation of spiritual victory is spiritual revival personally. A sincere and authentic faith, however, begins with a heart after God and that’s what these verses are all about. We need to seek Him wholeheartedly.

Recently we were looking at the nature of spiritual warfare in the book of Ephesians. The foundation of spiritual victory is spiritual revival personally.
A sincere and authentic faith, however, begins with a heart after God and that’s what I want us to look at today.

The church was born early in the book of Acts and by the time you get to chapter 10, the church in Jerusalem was thriving, but then a great persecution
arose against the church led by none other than Saul of Tarsus. He was considered enemy number one of the church.

And then, in an amazing turn of events, the greatest enemy of the church is literally blinded by light as he is struck off his high horse. For three days
he remained physically blind, but God was opening the eyes of his heart as he received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and forgiver of his sins.

After this, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed peace, and being built up in the faith, it continued to increase.

But as we come to Chapter 10, God is about to do something shocking, at least it was shocking to them. Up to this point, the church was for the most part
Jewish. Whenever the disciples would travel from city to city, they would give the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews.

Peter was no doubt proud of his Jewish heritage and for good reason, God said Israel was His chosen people, they received the promises of God and they
knew that the Messiah, who would bless the whole world, would come through them.

But the Jews considered Gentiles unclean so they created rules and traditions that were not biblical. For instance, Jews would not eat with the Gentiles,
nor would they eat food that was prepared by a Gentile. They would not invite them into their house, nor sit at a table with them.

Now, Jesus told them to take the Gospel even to the ends of the earth, but He didn’t mean for them to take the Gospel only to the Jews who might happen
to live at the ends of the earth. God’s heart is for all people. Jesus said, “God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten Son…”
Someone famously said, “The ground is level at the foot of the cross.”

The story of Acts 10 is about two men, Cornelius and Peter. Cornelius is an officer in the Roman army. He is a centurion in an archery unit called the
“Italian Cohort”. He is an amazing man with a great heart. Cornelius sincerely seeks after God, he gives generously to the poor and he prays to God
continually. He loves the light and God is about to give him more. Cornelius is hungry for the truth and he will receive more. He longs to be closer
to God and he will receive the filling of the Holy Spirit. There is an interesting principle that Jesus taught in several places, “To everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance.” This was true for Cornelius. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is about to be offered to the Gentile world and it all begins with Cornelius.

The story is also about Peter and what God must do to change his heart so that the Gospel is given to all men. Some things need to change in Peter. You
might say that God needed to soften him up. As Peter was traveling through these parts he was called upon to minister to two different Gentile people.

The first was a man named Aeneas who was paralyzed for eight years. Peter said to him, “Arise, and make your bed.” Now these are very powerful words. I’ve
said those same words many times to our kids, but not with the same result.

There are many different conditions of the heart, but we are free to choose. Jesus said that the heart is like soil; there are many different types.

Soil can be hard as clay, or filled with rocks, or there can be weeds, thorns, and thistles growing that choke out anything good. Soil can also be
good and produce good fruit 30, 60, or 100 fold.

One of the lessons that comes out of this story is that the condition of our heart matters to God. Another lesson that comes out of the story is that
God is always moving to change our hearts.

If a heart is hard, it may need to be broken, because it needs to change. If a heart is hurting, God moves to bring healing. If a heart is good, God
moves that it might grow deeper.

Illus – The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius said, “The true worth of a man can be measured by what he pursues.”

Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Cornelius has a heart that is hungry, that seeks after God and God is about to give him the greatest news the world can hear; God has sent His Son
to forgive sins and bring the life of God that transforms.

As a typical Roman citizen, Cornelius had been exposed to the Roman gods; Jupiter, Apollo, Venus, and more, but he discovered the God of Israel and
became devout. He gave generously to the Jewish poor and had a consistent and faithful prayer life.

One of the key things about Cornelius, however, is that he feared God.

Psalm 111:10, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.”

Having an awe of God and a respect for Him is the beginning of wisdom. A small picture of this might be having a good father whom you love very dearly,
but don’t want to cross him because you respect him.

Deuteronomy 10:12, “What does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Whether we know it or not. Whether we recognize it or not. We all need Jesus.

An angel of God appears to Cornelius with a message that he must send some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon Peter who will tell him what
he must do.

An interesting question; why didn’t God just explain the whole thing through the angel? It’s not their mission, it’s ours.

2 Corinthians 5:20, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were entreating through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

There is no question that Cornelius was a good man and if anyone would be considered qualified to enter heaven on his own merits it would be him.

But he needed Jesus, because it is on the basis of faith in Christ that we receive forgiveness of sins.

Romans 3:10, 23, “There is none righteous, not even one… for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”

Illus - Someone once came up to Bob Hope on a golf course thinking he would share the good news of Christ with him. But he responded, “Look, when you’ve given as much as I have to charity, then I’ll listen to you.”

Bob Hope was very funny; but he was no Cornelius.

Deuteronomy 10:17, “For the Lord your God is the God of gods and the Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God who does not show partiality, nor take a bribe.”

Peter was up on the housetop about the sixth hour, or noon, to pray and, falling into a trance, has a vision.

If the Gospel is to be brought to the Gentiles, Peter must change his heart.

A. Be teachable

In Peter’s vision something like a sheet was lowered and there were in it all kinds of creatures that were unclean according to the Jewish Law. A voice
came to him, “Arise, Peter, kill and eat!”

Peter responds, “By no means, Lord.” Many pastors and Bible teachers give Peter a really hard time here because he says no, by no means, for he had
never eaten anything unholy and unclean.

In Leviticus 11 there were clear instructions in regards to what they could and could not eat. Many people know, of course, the Jews are not allowed
to eat bacon or ham, etc., other things were less obvious. Jews are not allowed to eat owls, especially spotted owls, vultures, skunks, bats or
hoopoes.

Illus - These things would be detestable to Peter. This might be compared to a person, who eats very healthy, being told to eat a burrito or hot dog from 7-11.

Why was it necessary for this to happen three times?

I can think of two possibilities. Peter may have thought this was a test and that a lesson would be drawn from his steadfast obedience.

There was an example of this very thing in Jeremiah 35. God used the resolute spirit of the Rechabites to teach Israel a lesson.

Illus - Jeremiah was told to bring them into the house of the Lord and to set before the men pitchers full of wine, and cups, and say to them, “Drink wine!” But they responded, “We will not drink wine, for our father commanded us, saying, ‘You shall not drink wine, you or your sons, forever.’” Then came the lesson…

Jeremiah 35:13-14, “Will you not receive instruction by listening to My words?” declares the Lord. “The words of Jonadab, which he instructed his sons not to drink wine are observed… For they have obeyed their father’s command. But I have spoken to you again and again; yet you have not listened to Me.”

Peter may have been demonstrating the same heart to obey God’s Word, but when he was told three times, it changed everything.

In the Middle Eastern culture there is a custom that when something is said three times it is meant sincerely. Persians would call it “tarof”. For
example, a host is obliged to offer anything the guest might want, and a guest is equally obliged to refuse it up to three times and then you know
it’s sincere.

Illus - There have been some interesting stories of this backfiring when a Persian meets an American…

While Peter was perplexed as to how this vision might be applied, the men who had been sent by Cornelius appeared at the gate.

Peter immediately applies the lesson from his vision when he greets them and gives them lodging. Peter got the lesson. What a great example for us
as well, to take hold of the lessons in God’s Word.

There are several ways this truth that Peter learned must be applied. First, the truth of the Gospel must be brought to those whom the disciples avoided.

Second, and perhaps looking at it a bit in reverse, we must be careful not to call clean what God calls unclean. That’s a lesson that will transform
your life.

Finally, we can apply what Peter learned personally. Many people struggle accepting God’s complete forgiveness and continue carrying a great burden.

Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

Acts 10:1-23 NASB

1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his
household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel
of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he
said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. 5 Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is
also called Peter; 6 he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea." 7 When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned
two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, 8 and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to
Joppa.

9 On the next day, as they were on their way and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray. 10 But he became hungry
and was desiring to eat; but while they were making preparations, he fell into a trance; 11 and he saw the sky opened up, and an object like a great
sheet coming down, lowered by four corners to the ground, 12 and there were in it all kinds of four-footed animals and crawling creatures of the earth
and birds of the air. 13 A voice came to him, "Get up, Peter, kill and eat!" 14 But Peter said, "By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything
unholy and unclean." 15 Again a voice came to him a second time, "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy." 16 This happened three times,
and immediately the object was taken up into the sky.

17 Now while Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen might be, behold, the men who had been sent by Cornelius, having
asked directions for Simon's house, appeared at the gate; 18 and calling out, they were asking whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying
there. 19 While Peter was reflecting on the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. 20 But get up, go downstairs and
accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself." 21 Peter went down to the men and said, "Behold, I am the one you are looking for;
what is the reason for which you have come?" 22 They said, "Cornelius, a centurion, a righteous and God-fearing man well spoken of by the entire nation
of the Jews, was divinely directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and hear a message from you." 23So he invited them in and gave
them lodging. And on the next day he got up and went away with them, and some of the brethren from Joppa accompanied him.